Rockland students take part in national walkout

One month after the Feb. 14 mass shooting that left 17 staff and students dead at a high school in Parkland, Florida, students across the country are planning a youth-led school walkout to protest gun violence and demand action from lawmakers. (March 13)
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Sara Ferraro, Clarkstown South High School senior, speaks during the National Student Walkout March at the school in West Nyack March 14, 2018.(Photo: Peter Carr/The Journal News)Buy Photo

Students across Rockland County walked out of class this morning to raise awareness about strengthening gun laws.

The protest, which is part of the National School Walkout, took place at 10 a.m. and lasted for 17 minutes — one minute for each person killed during the massacre at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida.

Why today?

Today marks one month since the school shooting in Parkland.

Since the Feb. 14 shooting, demonstrations have popped up on campuses around the country, but today's rally is the first large-scale national one and is being coordinated by organizers of the Women's March.

Who is participating?

Nationally, there are protests happening in more than 2,500 locations, according to the initiative's organizers, EMPOWER, which is the youth chapter of the Women's March Network.

Demonstrations are expected at each of Rockland's public high schools and middle schools, as well as at private schools like Albertus Magnus and colleges like Dominican College. Altogether, more than two dozen public school districts across Rockland, Putnam and Westchester counties are expected to see students walk out.

Local elementary schools are not expected to participate "due to the mature themes associated with this event," according to a letter issued by superintendents in the county. Instead, parents are being asked to talk with their elementary aged children "as they see fit" and can access resources through their school district on how best to communicate the topic with younger kids.

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Students at Clarkstown South High School in West Nyack participate in the National Student Walkout March 14, 2018.(Photo: Peter Carr/The Journal News)

What happens during a walkout?

What each group decides to do is up to them, but EMPOWER suggests singing songs, holding hands or reciting the names of people killed by gun violence.

Students who choose not to walk out will be able to remain inside supervised while their classmates rally, according to a letter issued by Rockland County public school superintendents.

Why are students doing this?

In addition to honoring the lives of the victims, students are rallying to demand stricter gun control measures, including a ban on assault weapons, universal background checks and a restraining order that would allow courts to disarm individuals who show warning signs of violent behavior.

Connor Silverstein, a senior at Albertus Magnus, said, "I feel that gun violence in America has become somewhat of a social norm and that within weeks, news stories about these atrocities fade away until the next occurs."

The Stony Point teen, who coordinated the rally at his school along with junior Veronica DeGennaro, said, "The #NeverAgain movement is a way for us, as students being affected by this, to voice our opinions, as well as a way to raise awareness for mental health issues and gun violence."

DeGennaro, 17, said "As a nation, we need to pay attention to both aspects."

Fifteen-year-old Ilyssa Lapp, a freshman at Clarkstown North, said, “Our generation has lived through numerous school shootings and unfortunately, nothing has been done to stop this epidemic.”

She added, “We must act now to advocate for ourselves and future generations so that schools can be a safe place.”

Can I join them?

Security will be tight at local campuses since districts have coordinated with area police to ensure the demonstrations run smoothly and people not affiliated with schools are being asked to stay away during the walkouts.

EMPOWER has suggested alternative ways to show your support for rallying students, such as by wearing orange or walking out of your workplace for 17 minutes.

Why orange?

Orange is meant to represent the anti-gun violence movement.

How are school officials reacting?

Some schools across the country are planning to suspend students who walk out while others are working with police to find places on campus where kids can rally.

State Education Commissioner MaryEllen Elia has not issued any formal guidance about the protests and the state education department has said it’s up to each district to determine how to handle students who walk out.

Within Rockland, local school districts issued a joint letter saying "the idea of a voluntary school walkout" is "an opportunity to provide an educational experience for students" and give them "an opportunity to express their opinions."

Districts are coordinating with police and security staff to ensure the demonstrations are done “in a safe, secure and protected manner in designated areas” at schools, the letter said.

What else should I know?

Follow @lohud on Instagram between 9 and 11 a.m. as local students give us a behind-the-scenes look into the national walkout.

Be sure to check back later for live coverage of the rallies.

Also, the walkout has a Twitter feed (@schoolwalkoutUS).

What happens after the walkout?

Wednesday's rally is the first of three planned demonstrations this spring and part of a greater movement spurred by survivors of the Parkland shooting.

On March 24, a larger demonstration will be held in Washington, D.C., which is expected to draw thousands, including groups from Rockland County.

Those who can't make it to the nation's capital are being encouraged to organize rallies within their community. So far, more than 650 smaller demonstrations are planned across the country as part of the March for Our Lives movement.

Locally, a student rally will be held that day in front of the Rockland County Courthouse at 10 a.m.

Then, on April 20, another national walkout will be held to mark the anniversary of the shooting in 1999 at Columbine High School in Colorado.

Silverstein, who plans to attend the Rockland rally with DeGennaro, said that while advocating for change "in a more political manner" is a priority, it's just as important to connect with the overall school community right now.

That includes "making sure everyone feels safe, comfortable and listened to," he said. "We feel that change starts with us and this is just the beginning of our mental health initiatives in Albertus."